Power-controlling apparatus.



W. R. MGKEBN, JR. POWER UQNTROLLING APPARATUS APPLICATION FILED FEB. 19, 1007.'

Cum o 11H m V: Rw N M 2% V H .T K tub I T on T 0.H I A s 0.2 w .y w 4 b W. R. MGKEEN, JR, POWER CONTROLLING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 19, 1907.

937,844. Patented 0Ct.26,1909. v I I ZSHEBTS-SHEET z,

. I/NVENTOH M 4f Z 1. l

' ATTOI? Ersj the transmission of power andthe speed t detail elevation upon parts appearing in Fig. l and ha ving certain power transmitting ap )aratus,

acting means in connection with means of {tures of this invention, it may be noted .unr rnn s'rawnnr rte WILiIAM B- M KEEN, a.. Oren/term, NEBRASKA, Assreivon 'ro nnwann n. Beam.

MAN, OF ARDEN, NEW YORK.

POWER-CONTROLLING $.PPARAT US.

937,844. Specification of Patent Patented Oct. 26., 1909. Application filed February 19, 1967. Serial Nd. 358,317. 4 To all whom' it may concern: that in the throwing of positively acting speed changing mechanism there is a likelihood of injuring or even stripping the teeth or equivalent portions of the members entering into-mesh, even though the power be off at the time of shifting the parts. This tendency, which obtains largely by reason Be it known that 1, Wu. JAM R. liloKi-inn, J12, residing at ()maha, in the county of Douglas and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Power-Controlling Apparatus, of

which the following 1s a full, clear, and ex- .act description, such as will enable others of the inertia of the moving members, often skilled in the artto which it appertains to results in irreparable 1n ury to valuable make and use the same. parts and the breaking down of the entire apparatus. The provision of practical and etiicient means for doing away with this feature of speed changing mechanism is one of the aims of this-invention, and is, among others, achieved in apparatusof the nature of that hereinafter described.

-Refer,ring now to Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings,'there is shown a car axle '1 provided with the wheels 2, the car body being indicated at 3. Loosely axle or shaft-1 is a sleeve 4:

mounted upon upon which is in turn loosely 1ourualed alhis invention relates to the control of and with regard to the more speci 0 features thereof to mechanism.

- One of the objects thereof is to provide efiicient and durable means for controlling driven members.

Another object is to provide automatically the above type for insuring against in'ury to the parts due to a careless or too rapit actuation thereof.

Another object. is to provide practical means in connection with toothed or ihtcrmeshing members whereby accidental throwing of the same into engagement one with another is prevented. I

Other objects will be'in part obvious. and

in part pointed out hereinaftcn. The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified .in the embodiment hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the-ap -ilication of which will-be indicated in the'fo lowing claims.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown one of various possible embodiments of my invention.-Figuro l is a sectional elevation thereof. .in part diagramnmtic. Fig. 2 is a detail view of certain parts shown in Fig. '1, the same appearing in another position. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the parts in a third position. Fig. -'l is a a larger scale, showing conformation and receiving power from any desired source. clutch-member 0 adapted to co-act with a clutch member-'7 slidingly keyed to the sleeve 4.. From sleeve 4: power transmitted to a gear 8 fast thereon, and connected as by reducing gearing S) with a gear 10 loosely journal'ed upon the axle. Gears 8 and 10 'are thus driven from the sprocket 5, assuming the clutch member! to be thrown inditl'er-cnt and may be given any desired of the sprocket. Upon the inner faces of gears S and l0 11 and 12, respectively adapted ,to mesh vith the faces 1;) and H of an intermediate clutch incnibcr l5 slidably k'cycd to the axle 1. Upon a frame 10. mounted as shown, are

tivcly engage clutch members 7 and 15 by suitable loose rings 19 and 20., Levers 1 and 1S m'ay. if desired, l e actuated by hand without sacrifice of all of the advantages 0 my invention, but in the preferred embodiment shown are contracted as by links 21 and piston-rods 22 with suitable pistons in the cylinders 23 and 24: respectively. The actuation of these pistons at the desired portions broken away in order to show the construction more clearly.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views 0 the drawings.

As tending to cast light upon admission of compressed air to the corresponding cylinders, through the conduits 25,

certain feathe floor of Bolted to sprocket 5 is a' \vardly, and the speed of these members 15.

value, depending upon the speed of drivingpivoted the lovers fl? and 18, which rcspectimes is brought about through the proper driving member 5, preferably of sprocket are formed clutclrclements est 26, 27 and 28, leading from a valve seat 29.

forth is as follows: Assuming the clutch 7' to be thrown in and gears 53 and 10 to be driven at diderent rates of speed as above set forth, the continuity as well as the rate of drive of the axle l is governed by the position of the clutch member 15. The'latter member partakes of the rate of revolution of the clutch -member with which it is in mesh, and thus is not in synchnonism with the remaining clutch member, and obviously not in condition to be thrown suddcnly into mesh therewith. Even though the clutch 7 be automatically thrown out b vale 30 prior to a throwing of the lever 18, nevertheless, by reason of the inertia of the parts, it the clutch member 15 be thrown directly to the opposite limit of its path of, travel there is a likelihood of injury to the teeth thus brought into engagement. In order to interrupt the travel of the lever 18 rom one extreme position to another, the same is provided with a square end adapted to pass beneath a spring pressed bell crank lever 31 which may be raised or released-as by the foot rest Lever 31, as is best shown in Fig. 4c of the drawings, is 'provided with a pair of pivot latches 33 and 34:, having their contiguous faces of abrupt conformation and the outwardly disposed faces upwardly inclined in a direction away 'rom-one another. These latches are normally depressedinto their lowermost position, limited by ti ihoulders 35 engagin I the shoulders 36 by a crosshead 37 mounted upon pin provi red with a spiral spring 39. It will thus be 18 approaching mid-position it raises the first latch met thereby, as the latch 33 in Fig. 3

of the drawings, assuming the same to travel in the direction indicated by. the arrow, and is brought to a stop by the inner face of the latch 34, the latch 33 snapping down behind the same as shown in Fig. 2; In traveling in the reverse direction the lever is stop ed a reverse action taking place in the latches 33 and 34. There is thus of necessity a brief period of rest until lever 31 is released as by the depression of the foot rest. 32, compressing sprinp 40 and raising the latches. The lever 18 then completes its travel, and the clutch member 15 is parts is prevented.

seen that upon the lever.

thrown into mesh with the clutch member toward which it has been moved.

It may here nature of 100 as used thro'ughoutfthe following claims are intended tocoverany be noted that terms-of the I action by which the parts with reference to which they are used are materially retarded I thus retractingthe corresponding piston and throwing out the clutch 7. ompressed air or other fluid is then admitted to the crank end of the cylinder 24, tending'to swing the lever 18 to its opposite extreme. This lever is stopped in intermediate-position, however, by the latch 33 as above described, and an interval of rest occurs durin its release as by the foot rest 32. Upon re ease the lever completes its movement and clutch member 15 isthrown into mesh with'clutch member 12.

It will thus be seen that/I have. apparatus in which the several 0 my invention are achieved, and t rovided 'ects of at the above-enumerated advantagesare, among others, present. The mechanism is simple and yet thorou hl ,eflective, and serves as an automatic e co whereby injury to the The'time of action of the speed changing mechanism, moreover, is not materially increased inasmuch as a brief pause in its action has been found entirely eflicient in achieving the ends] sought. L

As many changes could be made in the above construction and 'mamy apparently widely different embodimentsof this invention'could be made without departin from the scope thereof, it is intended that a l mat-I ter contained in ,th shown in the accom anying drawings shall be interpreted as .illhstrative and not in a limiting sense. It is also to be understood that thelangu'a e used in the following claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention, which, as a matter of language, might besaid to fall therebetween.

aving described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a source of power, a driven member, means adapted to connect said so'urce of power with said driven member,

e above "description or and having speed changing means interl 6. In apparatus ofthe class described, in

posed therein, means adapted automatically combination, a source of power, a driven to disconnect said source of power during member, means adapted to connect said the actuation of said speed changing means, source of power with said driven member, means adapted to interrupt the' action of said means comprising positive clutch mech said a eed changing, means, and means 'anism adapted upon actuation to vary the adapte to render inoperative said interspeed at which said driven'member is driven, ruptmg means. means adapted automatically to disconnect 2. In. apparatus of the class-described-,in said source-of power during the actuation combination, a source or power, a driven of said clutch mechanism, said positive member, means adapted to connect said clutch mechanism being adapted to assume source of power with said driven member, a plurality of operative conditions, and and having speed changing means intermeans adapted automatically to lock the posed therein, means adapted automatically same in an intermediate condition upon passto disconnect said source of power during ing in eitherdirection from one to another the actuation'of said speed changing means, of said operative conditions. v said speed changing means being adapted to 7. In apparatus of the class described, in assume a plurality of operative positions, combination, a source of power, a driven and means adapted to lock said s eed changmember, means adapted to connect said in means in a position interme iate two of source of power with said driven member, its operative positions. said means comprising positive clutch mech- In apparatus of the class described, in anism adapted upon actuation to vary the combination, a source of power, a driven speed at which said driven member is driven, member,mean s adapted to connect said source means adapted automatically to disconnect of power with said driven member, and havsaid source of power during the actuation of ing speed changin means interposed therein, said clutch m hanism, said positive clutch single means at apted to disconnect said mechanism being adapted to assume a plusource of powerprior to the actuation o rality of operative conditions, and means said speed changing means and actuate said adapted to lock the same in an intermedia e speed changing means, said speed changing, condition upon passing in either direction means being adapted to assume a plurality o from one to another of saidoperative condioperative-positions, and means adapted to tions; v t lock said speed changing means intermediate 8. In apparatus of the class described, in two of its operative positions. combination, 'a car floor, car wheels, means I 4;. In apparatus of .the class described, in mounted beneath said floor adapted to transcombination, asource of power, a driven. mit power to said wheels, speed changing member, means adapted to connect saidI means interposed within said power transsource of power with said driven member, mitting means, means controlling the action said means.comprisingpositive clutch meclr of said speed changing means and positioned anism adapted upon actuation to vary the abov the car floor, said speed changing speed at which said driven member is driven, means comprising a member adapted to as means ad' pted automaticallpto disconnect Sumo a plurality of operative. positions, said source of power during the actuation of means adapted automatically to lock said said clutch mechanism, said'positive clutch member in an intermediate position upon mechanism beingadapted to assume a plupassage from. one to" another of said operay 0f OPeYfltlVe n n d me tive positions, and means positioned above adapted to lock the same in an intermediate saidcar floor adapted to'release said locking condition on passing from one to another of means, said pcrative conditions. 9. ln apparatus -'of the class described, in'

5. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a driving member, a member combination, a source of power, a driven driven'thercfrom, speed changing meansinmember, means adapted to connect said ,tcrposed between said driving and said driven source of power with said driven member, members and adapted to vary the rate of said means comprising positive clutch mechdrive, saidspced changing means comprising. anism adapted upon actuation to vary the a member adapted to assume a plurality of speed at which said driven member is driven, operative positions, means connected with -means adapted automatically. to disconnect said member and controlling the position said source of power during the actuation of thereof, means adapted to engage and lock said clutch mechanism, said positive clutch said last-mentioned means in a position cormechanism being adapted to assume'a plurcsporuli'ng toan inoperative position otsaid rality of operative conditions, and means member, and means adapted to release said locking means, said lockingm ans co ipris-. ing a pair of spring pressed latches, one of which is adapted-to interrupt the travel of adapted automatically to lock the same in anntermdiate condition upon passing from one to another of said operativeconditions.

said second means in one direction and the other of which is adaptedto interrupt-its travel in the opposite direction.

10. In apparatus of theclass described, in

eombination, a driving member, a member driventherefrom, speed changing-means interposed between said driving and said driven members and adapted to vary the rate'of drive, said speed i a member adapted to assume a plurality of operative positions, means connected with and controlling the position of said member, means comprising a pair of latches, oneof vmeans adapted to raise which is adapted to interrupt thetravel of said last means in one direction and the other of which is adapted to interrupt the travel of the same in the other direction, and

" terposed between said driving and said driven said latches and release said second means.

11. In apparatus of the class described, in

combination, a driving member, a member driven therefrom, terposed between said drivingand said driven members and adapted to vary the rate of drive, said 5 eed changing means comprising a member a apted to assume a plurality of operative positions, means connected v with and controlling the means com rising a pair of latches, one 0 which is a apted to interrupt the travel of said last means'in one direction and the other of which is adapted to interrupt the travel of the same in the other direction, and means adapted to raise said latches and release said second means, said latches being provided with inclined faces upon the sides remote one from another. 12. In apparatus of the class described, in

combination, a driving member, a member driven therefrom, speed changing means inmembers and adapted to vary the rate of drive, said speed changing means comprising a memberadapted to assume a plurality of operative positions, means connected with andcontrolling', the position ofsaid member,

I 'which is a means con1(prisin a apted to interrupt the, travel of said last means in one direction and the other ofwvhich is travel of thesame in theother direction, and means adapted to raise said latches and release said second means, said latches being provided with inclined faces u on the sides remote one from another and eing spring pressed into operative position.

13. In apparatus of the class described, in

combination, a driving member, a member driven therefrom, speed changing means inchanging means comprising speed changing means inposition of said member}: a

pair of latches, one of adapted to interrupt the tcrposcd between said driving and said driven members and adapted to vary the rate of drive, said speed changing means comprising a member adapted to assume a plurality of operative positions, means connected with position as automatically to said second-menand controlling the position of said member, alever mounted adjacent said means and adapted to swing away from the same, and a latches upon said lever one of whiching a member adapted to assumea plurality a d controlling the position of said member a ever mounted adjacent said means adapted olligoperative positions, means connected wit ppn of to 'swing away from the same, and a latches uponsaid lever, .one of which adapted to interrupt the travel of said second means in one direction and the which is 'adaptedto interrupt the the same in the; latches being provi upon the sides remote being spring pressed into 15. In apparatus of the c ass described in combination, a driving member, a membe ed with inclined faces driven therefrom, speed changing meansin-f terposed between said driving and said driven members and adapted to vary the Iof drive,'said speed changing means coinprisi ing a member. adapted toassume a pluralit of operative positions, means connected wit and controlling the position of said member.

a lever mounted adjacent said means adapts to swing away from the same, and a a r of latches upon 'said lever, one of w 'ich is adapted to interrupt the travel of said means in one direction and the'other of the same in the opposite direction, said latches being being spring pressed into operative position, and said lever being spring hold said latches in operative relation to tioned means. y

'16. In apparatus of the class described, in

a driving member,a member otlfi of trave of ppposite direction, sald;

one fromanother and operative position.

,provided with inclined faces 4 upon the sides remote one from another and 1; i 1101 pressed into such- A second g. I which is adapted to interrupt the travel of '1 combination, an axle, car" wheels mounted thereon, a driving memberupomsaid-axle,

speed changlng mechanism upon said axle adapted to transmit o'wer from said'driving member to said wheels and vary the rate of drive of said wheels,

, a cylinder, apiston within said cylinder connected'to and adapt-' ed to actuate said speed changing mechanism, a car bodyabove said axle, means positioned within said car body adapted to control theadmission of a compressed fluid to said cylinder and governthe action of said speed changing'means, and means controlled movement thereof.

- action of said speed changing means and action of said speed changing means an 'sitioned above the car floor, means adapted senses a within saidQcar-body sition.

17. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, an axle, car wheels mounted thereon, a driving member upon said axle, speed changing mechanism upon said daxle rivadapted to transmit power from said iiig member to said wheels and vary the rate of drive of said wheels, a cylinder, a'piston within said cylinder connected to and adapted to actuate'said speed changing mechanism, a car body above said axle, means positioned within said car body adapted to conp trol the admission oi a compressed-fluid to said cylinder and govern the action of saidspeed chan mg means, and means controlled within sai car body adapted to lock said speed changing means in an inoperative position, said last-mentioned means comprising an automatically acting lever provided with parts projecting within the path of travel of a member connected with said speed changing means and adapted to arrest the 18. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a car floor, car wheels, means mounted beneath saiddloor and adapted to transmit power to said wheels, speed changing means interposed within said power transmitting means, means controlling the O- sitioned above the car floor, means adapibd to interrupt the action of said speed chang ing means, and means adapted to release sai last-mentioned means and positioned above said car floor.

13. In apparatus of the class described, in

combination, a car floor, car wheels, means mounted beneath said iioor and adapted to transmit power to said wheels, a positive clutch interposed within said power transmitting means, means controlling the action of said positive clutch and positioned above the car lioor, means adapted to interrupt the action of said positive clutch, and means adapted to release said last-mentioned means and positioned above said car floor.

20. In apparatus of the class described, in

" combination, a car floor, car wheels, means mounted beneath said floor and adapted to transmit power to said wheels, speed changing means interposed within said power transmitting means, means controlling the to interrupt the action of said speed changing means, and means adapted to release said last-mentioned means and positioned above said car floor, said interrupting means comprising a pair of spring pressed latches normally lying in the path of a member connected with said-speed changing means.

21. In apparatus of the class described, in

" combination, a car floor, car wheels, means adapted to lock said. I

speed changing means in an inoperative potransmit power to said wheels, spee mounted beneah said floor and adapted to H changing means interposed within said power transmitting means-means controlling the action 0 said speed changing means an positioned above the car floor, means adap to interrupt the action of said 5 eed changin means, and means adapte said last-mentioned means and ositione above said car floor, said interrupting means comprising a pair of spring pressed latches normally lying in the path of a member con nected with said speed changing means and rovided with abrupt faces upon the sides adjacent one another and inclined faces upon the sides remote one from another, whereby said member is engaged and stopped upon meeting said latches in either direction.

' 22. In apparatus of the class described, in

combination, a car floor, car wheels,means mounted beneath the floor adapted to trans,

speed changing mit power to said wheels, means interposed within said power transmitting means comprising a member adapted to assume a plurality of operative positions, a member connected with said member and controlling the position thereof, means controlled above said car floor adapted to actuate saidspeed changing means, and means extending above said car floor adapted to interlock with said last-mentioned member and hold said first member in inoperative position.

23. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a car floor, car wheels mounted beneath the-floor adapted to transmit power to said wheels, speed changing meansinterposed within said power transmitting means comprising a member adapted to assume a plurality of operative posltions, a member connected with said member and controlling the position thereof, means controlled above said car floor adapted to actuate said s eed changing means, and means extending a ove said car floor'adapted totinterlock with said 110 last-mentioned member and hold said first member in inoperative position, said last means comprising a foot lever having pivoted thereon a pair of spring pressed latches one of travel of said last member in one direction and the other of which is adapted to interrupt the travel of said last member in the other direction.

24. In apparatus of the class described, i combination, a car floor, car wheels, means mounted beneath the floor adapted to transmit power to said wheels, speed changing means interposed within said power transmitting means comprising a member adapted to assume a plurality of operative positions, mens connected with said member and controllilng the position thereof, and a foot lever pro ecting above the car floor an provided 'with a pair of spring pressed.

to release which is adapted to interrupt the tively provided. with clutch teeth alternatively to c0-act with the teeth upon "said member,

"with said member and adapted to transmit latches one ofwhich is adapted to interrupt the travel of said last member in one direction and the other of which is adapted tointerrupt the travel of'the same in the opposite. direction, said foot lever being spring'pressed to hold said latches normally in operative position.

25; In apparatus of the" class described, in

combination, a shaft, a meinber secured to said shaft to turn therewith and slidable thereon, said member being .provided-upon each side with clutch teeth, a pair of gears loosely mounted on said shaft, and respecadapted actuating means connected I power thereto to slide the same along'said spring tending to forcesaid locking means and actuating means into operative relation one to' another, and-meansadapted to overcome said spring and release said actuating means, said actuating means comprising a fork pivoted lever and a slidingro'd connected thereto through which power is transmitted to said lever. In. testimony whereof Ii afiix my signag-i ture, in the presence of two witnesses.

RWILLIAM R. MCKEEN, JR. Witnesses:

H. P. VAN ARSDALE,

CHAS. W. LOUCIKS. 

